Super Tasting 6 of 6 - Greg's Brunello Dinner

Greg's House - Kitchener, ON
Tasted Saturday, November 9, 2013 by Dave Canada with 676 views

Introduction

This was a great night. Both the food and wines were great.
Greg had notes on sub-regions printed out and we did all the wines either single or double blind which helped us focus in on producer style and sub-region characteristics.

Flight 1 - Antipasti (1 Note)

Paired with Crostini con i funghi

  • NV Tarlant Champagne Cuvée Louis 93 Points

    France, Champagne

    Blend of 1996, 1997 and 1998
    Golden colour with persistent fine pin prick bubbles
    The nose is really quite rich with citrus fruit, biscuit, minerals, caramel and tangerine. The palate is so autolytic….really illustrates the fact that this wine spent 12 years on the lees. Tonnes of hazelnut, caramel, lemon, lime, yeast, dough, and minerals with great acid that balances out the weight and aged character of this wine.
    Finish is medium + with great balance again between the racy acidity and weight, texture and density of the wine. This is a really pretty, aged profile that is drinking really well now.

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Flight 2 - Double blind flight (2 Notes)

  • 2006 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Rosso di Montalcino 87 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino

    Tasted Blind
    This was quite dark showing aromas of cherry, flowers, plum, tar and noticeable alcohol. The palate showed similar flavours of minerals, cherry, plum and tar. The finish is medium but there is quite a bit of alcohol that is sticking out on the finish. The 14.5% alcohol really sticks out here for me.

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  • 2001 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Brunello di Montalcino 93 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted Blind
    Lighter in colour moving from ruby to garnet.
    Nose is very spicy with notes of earth, flowers, sour cherry and a subtle anise. The palate is so pure…..sour cherry, nutmeg, earth, flowers, leather, tomato leaf with a dusty character that is just so pretty. I love this. The finish is long, resolved and in a great place. I think this is drinking really well now. Obviously knowing the producer afterwards…one would assume that this can age really well but why wait? This is great. Almost 94pts

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Flight 3 - Double blind flight (2 Notes)

  • 2005 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted Blind
    Lighter in appearance….seems to be a more traditional producer
    The nose shows flowers, red liquorice, and cherry. There is a curious lactic note to this and also a caramel and resinous note indicates some smaller barrel treatment. The palate is chalky with notes of powdered sugar, spice, minerals but a bit more extracted than I would have thought. Having said that….it is very polished. The style really jumps out when you have it against the 2001 Biondi Santi.
    The finish is medium+ and with good complexity and balance.

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  • 2005 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino 86 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted blind
    This is very reduced….tar, rubber and animal dominate the nose. The palate is extracted with so little typicity and way too much oak…this could be any varietal. The finish is simple.
    I don't understand this producer. The Brunello scandal has really changed their wines….they have been forced to use 100% sangiovese (as opposed to the pre-2004 vintages where I think they were blending in cab and merlot) and their terroir just cannot support it. They then try to mask the deficiencies with way too much new oak. Ugh….yuck.

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Flight 4 - Double blind flight (2 Notes)

Served with Pappardelle al sumo di cinghiale

  • 2011 Argiano Rosso di Montalcino 87 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino

    Tasted Blind
    This looks quite extracted and modern….quite dark.
    The nose is reduced….showing rubber, tar and obvious oak. The palate is simple with plum, leather, blueberry and other dark fruits. The finish is medium but again shows extracted flavours

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  • 2008 Casanova di Neri Rosso di Montalcino 88 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino

    Tasted Blind
    This was lighter in colour with high tones flowers and tart cherry fruit. The palate shows similar flavours of cherry, wild flower and mineral with a simple finish that is a touch linear and lacking complexity.
    Having said that…i would much rather drink this than their Brunello.

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Flight 5 - Intermezzo (1 Note)

  • NV Tarlant Champagne Brut Rosé 90 Points

    France, Champagne

    This was very clean, crisp and a great example of rose champagne
    The nose showed tart red berry fruit, raspberry, and strawberry. The palate showed limited autolysis but does have ripe red fruit, minerals and a faint wif of caramel. The finish is medium.

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Flight 6 - 1995 Brunello di Montalcino - Single Blind (3 Notes)

  • 1995 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso 94 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted Blind
    Wow…this was spectacular.
    Nose of pretty sweet flowers, spice, cherry, cedar, leather, pipe tobacco. The palate shows brown sugar, cinnamon, lifted florals, and transitions to savoury notes of mushroom, cured meat and other sanguine notes. Very pretty.
    The finish shows great length with superb balance, concentration and integration. There are no edges and the sweet fruit and flower notes mix with a savoury richness that is just so appealing. Great wine. 94+…almost classic

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  • 1995 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Flawed

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted Blind
    The nose is not really expressive at all. It is all prunes and leather. Simple.
    This is not a correct bottle….possible heat damage.

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  • 1995 Pertimali (Livio Sassetti) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Flawed

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted blind
    This was so reduced…..very rubbery and metallic. Not flawed per se….just not is a good place. We left it open for a few hours and the reduction was still present.

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Flight 7 - 1997 Brunello di Montalcino - Single blind (3 Notes)

  • 1997 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted blind
    Nose of prune, date, fig, and red fruit….this is showy. The palate shows cherry compote, dates, mint, minerals, and sweet red fruit….this is round and lush yet with elegant fruit. There is a touch of heat on the finish but there is good fruit concentration. This seems a bit more modern than I would have thought for Fuligni. This also does not hold up well, we went back to it over 3 hours and it was turning to bruised apple nots indicating oxidation.

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  • 1997 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 92 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted blind
    This was initially quite reduced but really changed over 20-30 minutes.
    Nose is very meaty…this is raw and full of animal notes….blood, herbs, cured meat, minerals, red fruit.
    The palate is dominated by flowers, savoury notes, and pure red fruit…it is very silky and well rounded with further notes of graphite and minerals.
    The finish is medium with moderate complexity. Nice wine.

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  • 1997 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura 93 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Tasted blind
    Some reduction but it blew off to reveal quite a pretty wine. Pure red berry fruit, blood, cured meat and tea come to the fore….really integrated.
    The palate is all about salumaria….cured meat, blood savoury aspects and pure red fruit.
    Very good length on the finish with good balance and concentration. Very nice wine.

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Flight 8 - Dolci (1 Note)

Paired with homemade Biscotti all'arancia e mandorle

  • 2000 Tenuta Col d'Orcia Moscadello di Montalcino Pascena 92 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Moscadello di Montalcino

    Nose of orange peel, almond, marzipan and saline notes…..there is a touch oxidative.
    The palate shows tangerine, orange, minerals, marmalade and burnt brûlée with beautiful texture, weight and balance.
    The finish is long and complex.

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Closing

This was a really educational. I was surprised at the number of wines that showed reduction and also by specific wines like the 1997 Banfi and 1997 Fuligni Riserva which both showed quite differently that I would have thought. This tasting also further confirmed for me that I am a lover to traditional Brunello, the 2001 Biondi Santi was really great.

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